Joseph Priestley, one of the first discoverers of oxygen, once said, ‘Who can tell but that, in time, this pure air may become a fashionable article in luxury’. As if on cue, several skincare centres offer oxygen-based therapies that promise flawless skin. Oxygen is a colourless, odourless, tasteless gas.
It exists in the upper layer of the atmosphere in the form of ozone and has been used in treating medical conditions. Another aspect of this life-giving gas is that it has spurred the development of minimally invasive dermatological procedures that are progressing to rejuvenate ageing faces. Dr Shifa Yadav, Consultant-Dermatology, Artemis Hospitals says, “Oxygen can be given for skin rejuvenation in two forms, hydra/oxygen machine based facials where oxygen is given topically through a machine and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) where oxygen is inhaled orally in a pressurised chamber.
Oxygen increases collagen production by inhibiting MMP (Matrix Metalloproteinases) which degrades collagen, increases the cell turnover rate, and reduces the inflammation in the skin by inhibiting the inflammatory mediators, mainly Neutrophils. Oxygen supports the immune system, activates the defence system against toxic substances and sustains the growth of new cells.” The benefits of oxygen in face rejuvenation are many.
This includes reducing fine lines and wrinkles, giving an even skin tone, reducing pore size, giving hydrated, soft, clear skin, reducing acne and acne marks as well.
